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Lifetime Review: 'The Au Pair Nightmare'

Tension, suspense, and twists run high in this superbly written and cast Lifetime nanny thriller.

By Trevor WellsPublished 4 years ago Updated 3 years ago 5 min read
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It's been six months, and the tragic death of her fiancé still weighs heavy on Taylor's (Brytnee Ratledge) mind. So despite the mild objections of her sister Kara (Elizabeth Saydah), Taylor decides to take an au pair position out of town in an effort to move forward. Taylor is sent to be the au pair for the wealthy but private Caleb family, which consists of Allesandra and John Caleb (Annie Heise and Tristan Thomas) and their young daughter Emily (Gianna Gallegos).

While John and Emily are quick to give her a warm welcome, Taylor finds herself getting the cold shoulder from Allesandra, who had severe reservations about hiring Taylor and makes clear to her that she won't tolerate mistakes. But with Taylor forming a bond with Emily, she's willing to put up with Allesandra's icy demeanor. But after several bizarre incidents, Taylor begins to wonder if her new employers are hiding something. Will the Caleb family's dark secrets cost Taylor her life?

The Au Pair Nightmare shares quite a bit in common with another recent Lifetime premiere, Dying for Motherhood: both focus around a woman with a troubled past moving in with a couple as part of an arrangement between them, only to find herself in danger as she realizes her employers have some dark secrets lurking under their perfect exterior. And much like the well-written Dying for Motherhood, The Au Pair Nightmare takes a familiar Lifetime formula and brings a handful of twists and turns that give it something to distinguish itself.

While both writer/director Joe Russo and co-writer Chris LaMont appear new to the Lifetime scene (The Au Pair Nightmare is even Russo's first full-length film), both men do a great job of bringing something new to Lifetime's latest nanny-based thriller. Their script takes a different approach to building dramatic tension, namely in how Allesandra's character is introduced and played. From the moment we meet her, Allesandra wears her instability on her sleeve, only occasionally making vain attempts at masking her psychotic colors. So right off the bat, we see that Allesandra is an unstable woman with something to hide, but as the film presses on, we're left to wonder just what that secret is--as well as how far she's willing to go to keep it. The answers to these questions proved to be a surprise for me, and the rising action leading up to this reveal is excellently handled, assuring a suspenseful build-up that doesn't segue into padding.

Casting also proves to be damn near perfect, with the lead trio of characters all being played to perfection by their actors. Having previously appeared on my review plate as a well-developed supporting character, Brytnee Ratledge proves herself more than capable of taking center stage as the main protagonist. As Taylor, Ratledge effortlessly channels the range of emotions her character goes through during the film: the grief she quietly grapples with regarding her late fiancee, the instant feeling of unease she gets as soon as she meets Allesandra Caleb, and the warm connection she forms with Emily that drives her to stay despite the suspicions she has about her employers. Ratledge brings authentic emotion and charm to Taylor, making her a character you can't help but love and root for as she befriends Emily and works to uncover the skeletons in Allesandra and John's closet.

Speaking of, Annie Heise (previously appearing on Lifetime in 2014's The Good Mistress) is similarly on point as the transparently unhinged Allesandra. From the minute she's introduced, Heise brings palpable dread to Allesandra Caleb. You know there's something off about Allesandra, but for much of the film, we're not quite sure what her issues with Taylor are or what secret she's trying to keep under wraps. The well-written suspense and Heise's performance combine to make Allesandra a villain you love to watch in action as much as she makes you fear for both Taylor and Emily's safety.

Tristan Thomas, meanwhile, brings loads of appealing charm to Allesandra's more level-headed and friendly husband John. While Allesandra is quick to show her disdain for Taylor as soon as she meets her, John is just as quick to welcome her into his home with a warm smile, with Thomas and Ratledge forging chemistry as John becomes a buffer for when Taylor (often inadvertently) becomes the target of Allesandra's scorn.

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW

But by the time the third act rolls around, a different side of John emerges as we see him become convinced that his wife's paranoia was justified and that Taylor is a threat to Emily. With this new development, Thomas comes to life onscreen in a different way, with John becoming ruthlessly aggressive and violent to juxtapose Allesandra's restrained malice. John's transformation takes on a tragic side, however, once it comes out that he's been manipulated by Allesandra into believing lies about their daughter and killing an innocent man to protect Emily from a threat that never existed. Thomas brings that tragic revelation to life in his performance, making his sudden demise at Allesandra's hand all the more poignant.

Spoilers Over

Regarding the supporting cast, Gianna Gallegos does incredibly in her first film role as the young Emily Caleb. While she does well during Emily's moments as an adorably precocious young girl and establishes strong chemistry with Ratledge, she's at her best when we see the sadness and fear hiding behind Emily's sweet smile--a result of living under the care of a mentally unstable mother, who Emily receives a much-appreciated moment of catharsis against in the final act. Also making his film debut is Luke Valen as delivery boy Luke, with Valen bringing natural charm to the minor role and joining Gallegos in striking easy chemistry with Ratledge. Lastly, though, there's Kara, whose boilerplate "Heroine's Supportive Sister" character, introductory scene of her being needlessly opposed to Taylor's new career plans, and middle-of-the-road performance by Elizabeth Saydah leave Kara as the black sheep of the otherwise well-developed cast.

Apart from that forgivable hitch, however, The Au Pair Nightmare is a thriller that fires on all cylinders where it truly counts: a strong script that provides an engaging mystery for the viewer, a deliberate pace that knows how to bring suspense without inducing yawns, a stellar main cast that brings life and fire to their characters, and a climax that brings it all to a close on a thrilling note. For his first full-length film, Joe Russo nails it, and here's hoping this won't be his last time directing/writing for Lifetime.

Score: 10 out of 10 "Taylor-made" cars.

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About the Creator

Trevor Wells

Aspiring writer and film lover: Lifetime, Hallmark, indie, and anything else that strikes my interest. He/him.

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Twitter: @TrevorWells98

Instagram: @trevorwells_16

Email: [email protected]

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